Night Shift(36)

Kiki’s face grew even uglier, and she planted her feet to loose a volley of anger. But then she faltered.

Diederik looked like a very big boy, or a very young man, but either way you counted him, he looked formidable, Fiji thought. And Fiji hoped that she herself was projecting the confidence she felt.

Kiki deflated.

To Fiji’s relief, Kiki went into the guest bedroom without further words, slamming the door behind her. She packed as noisily as possible, slamming and banging and kneeing things until it seemed as though a poltergeist were at liberty. Fiji hoped nothing of hers was going into Kiki’s suitcase.

In the kitchen, Diederik reached out to take Fiji’s hand. She let him, and felt comfort in the contact, but Kiki had succeeded in awakening active shame in the fertile ground of Fiji’s conscience. After a minute, she withdrew her hand. “I guess you’d better leave, Diederik,” she said. “It’s going to be pretty uncomfortable here until she goes.”

“You will maybe need protection,” he said.

“I can handle her. You’re a good friend to have,” she said. “I can’t thank you enough.”

He grinned, to her surprise. “I feel strong and tough, now!”

She would not have thought so a moment before, but she could smile, too. “You are plenty strong and tough,” she agreed.

Around suppertime, Kiki came out of the guest room and marched down to Home Cookin, without saying a word to Fiji, who was making supper for both of them.

Love the atmosphere of your home, gloated the deep voice.

The minute the sky was dark, Fiji called Lemuel. “It’s talking to me,” she said.

For a long moment, he said nothing. “I’m coming,” he said. Fiji heard him saying, “Olivia, please mind the shop for a few minutes,” and four seconds later he knocked on her back door.

“Where is the sister?” Lemuel glanced through the hall at the shop.

“She’s still at the restaurant. I’ve asked her to leave in the morning. The voice told me that he’s trying to kill my enemies to placate me. I’d ask her to leave, anyway. She’s unhealthy for the community. But in view of the voice’s agenda . . . Lemuel, what is it?” Fiji didn’t mind showing Lemuel how frightened she was.

Lemuel’s cold hand brushed her cheek. “Fiji, don’t feel singled out. Do you know why it’s speaking to you?”

“No, but I hope you do.”

“You are its target because you alone can stop it.”

“How?” She was excited and terrified by the prospect.

“I don’t know yet.”

Fiji deflated in a hurry. “Lemuel, how can you know one thing and not another?”

“Because I’m still reading the damn book, woman.”

“You need help. We need to speed this process up.”

“What is coming up on the witch calendar, Fiji?”

“That’s easy! Samhain.”

“What does this mean to you as a witch?”

“Not too different from what it should mean to the nonpagan community. It’s the day when the souls of the dead can come through. People used to dress in disguises so the dead couldn’t recognize them, and they used to leave food out for the spirits. Now we call that ‘trick or treat,’ and it’s fun for kids.” She shrugged. “Also, it’s a thin day, a day when the spirit world is close to ours, and fairies and other supernatural creatures can enter our world. There’s lots more, but those are some of the aspects of Samhain . . . which I celebrate on the night of October thirty-first. Some celebrate it on November first.” She looked askance at Lemuel. Lemuel knew that she had a big Halloween party and decorated her house starting days ahead of time.

“I think you should not have your party this year,” Lemuel said. “Fiji, I’ll do anything I can to unearth the information we need as soon as possible.”

Kiki came in the back door as Fiji was digesting this. Kiki’s expression had been angry, haughty, her jaw set hard and ready for a fight. But when she saw Lemuel, she became wary.

“Hello,” Kiki said, and realized she had to pass Lemuel to get to her room. She stopped dead.

“You’ll be leaving tomorrow?” Lemuel said directly to Kiki, his icy eyes locking on hers.

“Yes, first thing in the morning,” she said, as if the words were being wrenched from her throat.

“You are not a good woman,” Lemuel said. “I hope you will not return.”

“God, no!” Kiki exclaimed. “Not for love or money.”

“I doubt either will be offered you,” he said, and stood aside so that she could walk through the kitchen.